LakesideStamper

Countdown to Christmas-Advent Calendar…

This is an Advent Calendar I designed and have wanted to do for about a year now. While it’s a time consuming project it’s not diificult to do. I used as many stamp sets I had for the images behind each window. Some images were embossed, hand colored and even partial images were used. I just had fun with it. This would be a great project to do this weekend and even have the kids help out with the stamping. The small windows range from numbers 1 to 23. I need to add number 24 to the oval window. The door is number 25 with the Holy Family behind it.

For the windows I stamped the tag image from the Stampin’ Up! Punch Pals Stamp Set in Versa Mark. I stamped 23 of them, one for each window. I then embossed them with White Embossing Powder. I scored along the left side of the tag, folded it and lined up the image with the Tag Punch so that the left edge was just to the inside of the punch. Doing it in this manner allowed the flap so that the windows could open up. For the inside images I simply stamped them, punched them out with the Tag Punch and adhered them to the flap. For the window and door numbers I used My Big Shot and a die similar to the Timeless Type.

Here is the oval window detail. I stamped the saying from the Christmas Punch Stamp Set in Versa Mark and with White Embossing Powder I embossed it. I used the same technique as for the smaller windows. Along the left side of the oval I scored, folded and lined it up just to the inside of the Wide Oval Punch.

Below shows some of the images I used behind the windows.

This is a detail of the Holy Family from the Stampin’ Up Holy Triptych Stamp Set, behind the door. I stamped it in Versa Mark Ink and Gold embossed it.I then hand colored the image in with a combination of Stampin’ Up Markers and Watercolor Pencils. On the Handsome Hunter door front I stamped and embossed the tree image from the Stampin’ Up! Snow Swirled Stamp Set.

Here are the dimensions for the house parts of the Advent Calendar:

Pretty in Pink Card Stock 11-1/2″ x 7″

Sage Green Card Stock 11-1/2″ x 4-3/4″

Rose Red Card Stock 12″ x 12″

Handsome Hunter Green Card Stock 1-3/4″ x 3-1/4″

For the coins going up the sides:

Soft Suede Card Stock 1/2″ x 3/4″

Creamy Caramel Card Stock 1/2″ x 1/2″

For the piediment I hand cut a triangular shape and trimmed it out with the Scallop Edge and Eylet Border Punches. I layered the Pretty in Pink Card Stock and Sage Green onto the Rose Red 12′ x 12′ sheet of card stock. I placed the coins up both sides of the house, adhered the scallop and eyelet edges to the piedement and plced that on the top. Then I adhered all of the windows and door to the house. I added a piece of Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon to use as the hanger.

I really love the way this turned out and like very much the Rose Red, Sage Green and Pretty in Pink color combination. I tried to be as clear as possible on this project but if you have any questions you can email me at diane@lakesidestamper.com

Many thanks for stopping by and remember to take time out to hand make items to give as gifts this holiday season. Gifts which are personalized and a part of you. Let’s try to remember the true meaning and not get caught up in the commercial end but, truly put ourselves into this most joyous of seasons. Isn’t that what it’s all about?